| Impact ID |
Scientific Name
|
Impact Type
|
Study Type
|
Study Location
|
Impact Description
|
Geographic Location
|
Reference
|
|
9622
|
Glugea hertwigi
|
Other Ecological Benefits
|
Anecdotal
|
N/A
|
As rainbow smelt preys heavily upon bloater, alewife, slimy sculpin, emerald shiner, burbot, and opossum shrimp, its diet is believed to affect prey population numbers and could effect total mortality of yearlings. Furthermore, commercially valuable native and non-native salmonids rely on several of these prey species. Die-offs of rainbow smelt as a result of Glugea hertwigi may increase prey fish populations, thus increasing feeding opportunities and improving the health and value of the salmonid fisheries. However, such effects have not been realized in the Great Lakes.
|
Great Lakes, USA
|
43213
|
|
9624
|
Glugea hertwigi
|
Other Ecological Benefits
|
Observational
|
Field
|
Potential food web effects from Glugea hertwigi include those on lake trout. Juvenile lake trout tend to eat slimy sculpin, while adults consume rainbow smelt. Direct competition for slimy sculpin between juvenile lake trout and rainbow smelt has been observed. Lake trout may therefore be a keystone predator in the relationship between rainbow smelt and slimy sculpin. Mortalities in rainbow smelt by G. hertwigi could decrease competition and stress in juvenile lake trout and could have significant beneficial effects on the Great Lakes food web.
|
Lake Ontario
|
13844
|
|
9625
|
Glugea hertwigi
|
Other Ecological Benefits
|
Anecdotal
|
N/A
|
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) compete with lake herring (Coregonus artedii) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) and may be partially responsible for the decline of Great Lakes whitefish (Coregonus spp.). Increased Glugea hertwigi infections and die-offs of rainbow smelt could lead to a decrease in competition and stress on lake herring and yellow perch and may increase the commercially valuable whitefish population.
|
nan
|
271
|